Vic & Vera Griffiths

Vic and Vera Griffiths came to live in Roundlands, Lacey Green in 1966

Both Vic and Vera did much in the villages.

Vera Griffiths was the Secretary on the Village Hall Committee, retiring after 1978.

Vera was very involved with the youth clubs, running the junior club and directing the joint junior and senior clubs in their Christmas pantomime. See

report by Bob Sanders below:- (click Bob & Diane Sanders for more of their life story)

Lacey Green has over the years had a number of youth Clubs run by so many willing and generous people. In the mid 1960’s there were for a while 2 clubs, one a Junior club led by Vera Griffiths who lived with Vic her husband in Roundlands and a senior club led by Peter Barnard (Peter & Ellie Barnard) who lived at the bottom of Little Lane, Loosley Row. Both clubs were very successful at that time attended mostly by local teenagers. There were lots of things organised for the clubs, on one occasion the late Sir John and Lady Hall at the time the local member of parliament coming to the club to explain the internal workings of the House of Commons.

25 Mile Sponsored Walk. On one occasion a sponsored walk was arranged over 25 miles,   it involved the whole village with the likes of Gordon Turner actually completing the walk and then going back to work straight after.

Of course the junior section by nature of the distance involved had so much sponsorship money riding on them.   Great care and encouragement was needed to get them home to complete the 25 miles on what was a very hot day As a result of everyone’s hard work a large amount of money raised for charity.

The Christmas Pantomime. On occasions the 2 clubs combined, particularly when it came to the Christmas pantomime.   This was usually performed over a couple of nights and on at least one occasion went on the road!   Ok it did one performance in Speen.

Vera Griffiths was one of the producers and as you would expect in the early weeks rehearsals were taken somewhat lightly by the cast, that is, until the final couple of weeks when reality struck home, the costumes were being tried on made by parents and helpers, the scenery and lighting was taking shape and all the panic and nerves and of course fun that go with a village production.

Ad-Libbing. The performances were always fully booked and really enjoyed by the village folk, this was helped in part by some ad-libbing by the cast which of course got more laughs than the actual script.

________

Report of words of Ted janes in which he included the following "special mention" :-

The village hall committee organised many things, and many people have worked for it but he particularly mentioned Vera Griffiths, “a great organising lady”.  Recalling the annual turkey suppers, strawberry teas, frequent dinner dances and many other things.

________

VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE report in Hallmark February 1977

GIFT OF LAND

The piece of ground at the rear of the Village Hall, loaned for many years, is now kindly being given by Lady Bateman.   For the purpose of conveyance Mrs Vera Griffiths and Mr E W Janes (Ted Janes) will act as trustees. Click Sir Geoffrey,FRCS,KB & Lady Bateman, Vic & Vera Griffiths, and Ted & Jean Janes, for more about Lady Bateman, Mrs Vera Griffiths and Mr E W Janes.

________

In 1983 Ted Janes, editor, published in Hallmark, the obituary of Vic Griffiths :-

It is with great sadness we report the recent death of Vic Griffiths.

Vic came to live in Lacey Green in 1966 and by the nature of his work, shift work at the BBC, his willing hands were constantly on call to assist his wife Vera in the many jobs she threw herself so wholeheartedly into: Secretary of the Village Hall Committee, President of The Womens Institute, Youth Club work!

But Vic had a great interest of his own, the restoration of The Windmill, together with his late friend George Cusack. I am sure the years of restoration work would without doubt not have advanced without Vic and George's effort. Later he moved to Naphill, and then retiring early to Cornwall, but he never forgot Lacey Green, returning often to visit so many friends.

Our deep sympathy goes to his wife Vera, and children Jenny and Nigel.